Ring balance meter



Oct. 5, 1943. R. A. ACKLEY RING BALANCE METER Filed 'N ov. so, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Robert A.Ac%e q by M WWW Affovneys Oct. 5, 1943. ACKLEY' 2,331,153

RING BALANCE METER Filed Nov. 30, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet? Inventor Robert A.Akley 12y Attorneys Oct. 5, 1943. R. A. KLEY 3 L RING BALANQE METER Filed Nov. 30, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet s I 46 9 I a a b I mentor Attorneys I Oct. 5, 1943. R. A. YACKLEY 2,331,153

RING BALANCE METER Filed Nov. 50, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Robert A. Ackley Attorneys Oct. 5, 1943.

a A. ACKLEY RING BALANQE METER Filed Nov. 50, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I nverctov Robert A-ACkl 47a? 9 by Aftor'neys v 6% Patented Oct. 1943 r e 2,331,1"53 I RING B LANCEMETER vRobert A. Ackley; ChicizgoL'fIlL, assignorgto Itepublic Flow Meters Company, Chicago; corporationQoif Illinois 1 I Application Novemberfi This invention" relates toj meters and more particularly to differentialfiuid pressure meters.

O'neo'fthe'objects of' the invention is to 'provide ameter which will stand a pressure differ-. ential greater vvthan therange it is designed to" measure without damage. In a meter employing a sealingliquid which'is displaced by the differential pressure this means that the liquid is preventedfrom-blowing out until a differential is reached substantially in excess of that which- 7 the meter is designed to measure.

' Another object of the'invention is to provide a meter which may be easily filled with sealing liquid; According to one important feature the meter may be incased and may easily be filled 'without the necessity of removing it from the casing. V v V Still another object of the invention is to pro.- vide a meter having a movable body in which pressure may be conducted to the body without" the use ofsliding joints or the like. Thisobject is preferably accomplished by providing elongated tubes communicating with the body and bending laterally as the-body moves. Since, the lateral resistance of the tubes is constant'it may readily be compensated for.

Yet another object ofthe inventionis to pro- "vide a meter having a movable body whose motion is variably resisted'by a cam mechanism.

Preferably the cam mechanism is so arranged as to have substantially no effect on" the body 'during theinitialistages of its motion.

I Another object or the invention is to provide a ring balance meter which requires a reduced amount'of sealing liquid as compared to convention'al meters of the same capacity;

e Other objects, advantages and novel features of the "invention be" apparent fromv the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure -1 is a front'section of a meter'emborlying the invention; 1

Figure? is a sidesection of the meter illustrating another mounting arrangement; 1

li iguresfiijto '6 are rpartial diagrams showing themeter'in difierentpositions; Figures -7 and. 3 are similar diagrams showing difiere'nt partsof the mechanism; A

' Figures 9 and 10 are diagrammaticviews illusv trating another meter body construction;

Figures 11to 14 isre" partial views showing "another camcon'structiorrz -and' e *Figureld "isan enlarged view with parts in section showing a pressur'e'yiconnection.'

-In the drawings tlie invention has "been illusare applicable tojmetersof other types-{Ii 4 ,r shown in Figure l the meter isi'ncasedin-a casp I ing ll mounted on a pedestallZ 'andincludesa;

base I'3-suppo rted on levellin'g-screws UL; 'Ihcjf 'ba'se 'carriesia ball bearing ilt pivotally support ing' abar l6 which is.=secured togand supp rts;

:a'n iannulartubular body Il. -.A partition la-is swings." 5 :,iv v A; v t The meter body is :connected: to v a source of :dlfferential pressure," for, example across orifice in a fluid conduit, by means o f iyertically a extending 17111265119 connected to the upper part 'of theimeter lbbdy'on oppos sides o t epa tition 18. The upperends of "thetubesgare closed; 'by plugs 3| whichmay. be removediorfilling the body with sealing liquid or 'for venting) it and tubes '32: connects the, upper ends oft tubes @withwpassages 33 *in 1a; bloclg 34 carried" 'jb upper. part-ofthemeter body ll.

it wi'll' be apparent that many ofjthejfeatures provided at the upper part 0fithe body I] and the lower part thereof isfilled witha sealing Z q a liquid l 5 tsuchy as: mercury; I Figure 2 I shows the vcasing l l mountedin an;

opening ina panel 2| by means of asupi q ting bracket 22.:; The-front 0f the casing is closed by'a coveri23 having a glazed portion :through v I, which a chart orldialmay bevobseryed. Asseen in Figure 2 ,achart '24 is arranged behinda the cover 23 anddriven by a;clock mechanism ,2,5 and'has a record madethereon by a pen 26.; ;The pen is supportedby a shaft 21 pivoted "in anz e g tension of the base I3 and rocked throughaan" J a adjustable linkage 28 as theameterbody In the lower part of the meter body apartition' 35 is formed extendingyfrom the uppery'w'all tjo atpointdjustg short of i the lower wall to} leave acommunicatingpassage below the partition. This partition .35 together rwith'the t be zepm: Y vides aasafety feature preventing blowing-outi of the sealing liquid until a pressure 'difierential}; is

reached in excess "of that which the meter-is ,de'

signed'to measure; 'In normal use the see tling liquid remains entirely in the meter body 1| lfbut if an exceptionally high difierential pressure should occur thesealingliquid could rise inone of the tubes 29 and the partition 35 would-pm or clean the meter it is only necessary to remove the casing member 31 for access to the plugs 3| and tubes 29 without disturbing any other part of the meter. For draining sealing liquid from the meter a plug 33 may be provided in the bottom of the meter body I 1.

Pressure is conducted to the passages 33 in the blockthrough.,flexible tubes-.35 secured at their upper ends to the block 34 and mounted at their lower ends on bored blocks 40 secured to the base I 3 below the ball bearing [5.

The.

tubes are shown extending radially vertically from the blocks 40 to the block 34 and areiiormed intermediate their ends substantially. in alignment with the bearing l Swithhelical portions" 4|. As the meter body I! swings about its central pivot the tubes 39 will deflect in the manner of springs, most ofthe deflections the helical portions 4|.

In operation, the tubes 39 resist oscillation of the meterbody in the manner of springs .and

, construction, slip jointsare-eliminai-ed entirely without-interfering in any way' with-the. accuracy or sensitivity of the meter.

The blocks 40 are formed with-passages 44 and as best seen -in Figured, arewcurved to extend aroundLthe central portion oft-he base 13. At

their outer en'ds the passages "44 may be connected through tubing, not shown, to a desired source of differential z ziressure.

The meter body is'normwlly held in its central pos-i tion by a weight lisecured "to the lower portion thereof.. Iidesired, the size of one of theweightsll or 45 may be decreased slightly to compensate for the opposing weight which may then be eliminated. Motion of the meter body is resisted in addi- =tion-to the weigh't'floy a cam mechanism 'illusi trated diagrammatically in'l igures 3 to G. .As

shown, the bar 115 -has rig idIy 'seouredthereto *anarm-W f-ormed withan engaging surface :41! terminating in a shoulder IB-ali-gnod with-the 'axis of rotation of the meter liody. The rarin -I16 I -is-eng-aged lay-a lover 4! pivoted on a stationary pivot {51 adjacent-the peripheryof the meter body and formed with a surface Stove-flying the :sur- An extension 53 =on-the lever 49ndjustably carries; a weight against the arm. v v

"The surfacesfl and ol-are'sosshaped that when the meter is in'its neutral positiomhas:shown in Figure 3, and are in contact lonly -a;t the shoulder 48, tangents to "the surfacesat the-point of-contact lie at a slight angle. II :the'u'netesr body turns tar-the position of lBElgureiA.iits m'otion.is

$4 preseing' lflne zlever occurring in f ential across an orifice is proportional to the square root of the flow. Thus the meter will have a relatively large motion during conditions of low flow velocity and will give a more accurate flow indication.

As the meter is displaced further to the position of Figure 5, the weight 45 is swung out to a horizontal distance a. and, the point of contact between surfaces 41 and 52 occurs at the line .11. At this time the weight acts .on the arm 46 with a leverage b at a distance 0 from the pivot 5|. Thus the weight 54 acting through levers 46 and 49 exerts a relatively large .force resisting turning of the meter body.

' Figure 6 illustrates the parts in the position of maximum displacement with the weight 45 at a horizontal distance a" from the vertical axis and'with the point of engagement between sur facesfiiand 52 at y. At this time the lever 49 acts on the arm 46 through a lever arm 22 equal substantially to the full length of the arm 46 .andlat a distance .c from the-pivot 5|. Thus the weight 54 has reached its maximum effectiveness.

I it will be noted that the point of contact between resisted only by the-weight 15, the: smdaces 54:1

32 remaining in oontact atltheishoulder '48 butolosing the ang lelbetweonithem. xPneferably, 1

this-"motimi isizaused by'apprnximaztelyil'%xof the total -diffierentiall which Jthe :meter iEFd-BSiED-Ed ito -measure which kin .a :fiomdetercomesponds to 10 %-of the full range flow. During the ,flrst par't of tfhe emotion the weight moves a; distance a, as shown in Figure 4, and thetonlymesistance to tuming of the unete'rzibod y up'xtorthis point is that= which -*-results r'f'romdiheldisplacementz-of the weight 4'5. This )is desirable ;:in.a xnetersuch, fo1 example,--as::alflow under in fvvlrichithe dinetthe surfaces 1 and 52 is always on a line connecting the meter body axis and thexaxis of pivot .5! .so that true rolling contact is obtained.

It will beunderstoodthat the-engaging surfaces 41 and 52 maybeshapedtogive any desired A-c-haracteristic to the motion of 'themeter body. In a flow meter, tor example; these su-rfaces would bes-ha-ped to give =a-motion of the meter 'propor ,tional to the square; root of theqdifferential -pressure, so as to provide a direct indication of the -sate of flow. 7

Figuress and --10 illustrate another construction of the meter body which may meter the same range-of 'difierentia-l pressures as the body of Figures 1 to tgwitha considerable saving in sealiocingliquid. Since-mercury-is normally used as .the. sealing liquid and is uite expensive this construction. results in anisppreciable saving in-cost without the sacrifice ofany-efliciency of range.

Innormal operation of a ring bala-ncezmeter, bne quad-rant; of the ring is" always full of sealing liquid. Accordingtothe present invention, the size of thering through this quadrant is reduced to reduce, its liquid capacity and the reduction in'weight of liquid in the reduced part of the ring is compensated for by the addition of an 4 external weight.

Figures 9 and 110 show an annular meter body -50 formed,withwaqrcduced portion .6l extending from the lower part of the high pressure side of the ring to a poin-t just below the zero liquid-level on the low pressure -side of the ring. The low and high pressuresides oft-he ring areseparated iby a blockdil to which pressure is conducted by rflex-ible ubes 63 as describedabove and a weight similar to zthe'weight -42 theoretically shouldbe provided :to compensate forthe bending moment of the tubes.

.In order to compensate .for the decreased weight :of the reduced portion -6I a weight theoreticallyshou-ld Ibo-attached to the meter body at the reduced portion. This weight shouldrhave such a value as to rebailance the meter body so that it will again become .a. balanced ring the same :as though it were 20f uniform section throughout. 1 I

Since the two theoretical weights lie-on 'a-"line passing outside of the center-of the meter body they may bereplaced bylasingle weighthaving its center 'ofzzgravitydlying {at the. intersection 'of arradius through thecenter :of the :meter :body

*and the line.- Hovvevem instehd? pf" actual weight at'this :polntifld preirrfitowmk -'-the' same" effect by 'locating 'a isingieasmflicr- 1 the meteri-isiin ,over a dial or chart indicated at: T

e these Zeta s i en h we 13 318 Only oint of ccntactbetween theg vsurhiees t9] the position of Jieure; ,12 about the point -15:v until the c lsquarjelrootlof I vide auniform diaLj It 'wi ll hegnoted that; this" case as with the cams V and 'I'lisothat -a v tained with no sliding weight at/61"adjacent'the perlhh i theater body and lying: onzazi: exterisionic!" .ra'dius oh .which such weight suslocated. In thisway a singlejsmall weight maj be provided to compensate :forthe cutout portionzof the meter bodyxend-iorithei tilted slight-1y, countereldekwise "as shown ure' 9,- the mercury intheilow pressure 511115123 tendsaslightly above; theiuppcr endgot theirs? Zitaattaches n w a I :MQniateriai-andcarrying a steeljtipfliio s mi duced portion. 6| and; ;of course. fills 'thehlah pressure sidewup toi'approximateiy BFMCQI center; :Figure 10 shqws thexother movement I with the mercury in the "hith "W 8? sure, side depressed and correspondmgly-inisc.d "in the lowpressure side; From then; 118W! git w l be Seen h hE QI-GHIXfblilwfi'rflbws' 1mm 1 eneportion offull section to another po fln fc full Section so thatthe-efiect is the'eame-M if}! 3 complete ring of u iformsection were provided.

Figures 11 to 14- illustrate anaysitem tivecan (construction which-maybe in piano! the arrangement shown'cin Eigure jito firfA 5110112 the meter body 68 is pivoted at-BB en'd-is urge'd toneutral or zero position by a weight.

withla curved cam surface 'l'3 terminatlngat its outer end ina notch ll-with a-relativelyaharp point 15 at its outeriextremitu cam lever-y-li is" pivoted at" andhasa cams-surface 1! -en- ,gaging'fthel. surface 13; there; being a notch-f in the surface 18 }to receive the tpolntffi The lever m ve i I6 is secured to a'pointer or pen I e W sur ace 1,! engagesrtheisurfaoe 13. atgtheopposiieedgefoi groove, 14', Thismovementrepresentsiabout 1-%'v a of the total d'ifieren'tial and 9f tiptotal meter body'movement andad nceythe pointer I over the first part of the die.

varm 1.2 is securedto the meter-body and is formed a l m rendie d ndin radmuw t ivota a is at the point-151K185 the met b y tri m As the movementcontinues the Figure-{14, -the pointer TaLbhtmbvefl overdue dial in accordancewith the team hapey and the movement of the meter body thefcams are preferably the pointer a moyeme propor flonal tp body; m ment "9 9* 7 always lies one line, connectingyth r iyot "50 true rollin contact, is main- The meter body as is satedictates its ends at 82- to q-proyide upwardly extending tubes for connection to pressure pipes 83. The

roll on each other throughthe-intermediate-posi- I htio'naoi Figure -13 ,to the maximumvpesiteon t'ion to cou'rit'erijalanoe the bending c morn .fitbe' waive seatr I If. an excessively-1.1M

occur. :such as to mercurydromthe tone of thewb "rthe M ke will float up to its closed; position; Thiswill Z' pvevent the "mercury being blown -'0l.1t}.0t the. it :be; understood thatsimilar alxesye u dwee c n h 't e" ifi u es several embodiments ob meg-invented I .beunderstood thatxvarious hanges, mightbe made thereinand-that the drawings anddescrip up are not intended to, be a definition ofqthe flied llowlr, ends, nh-a fixed part hi the. apparatus and connected. to] said body. at v up ergends I r extending radiallyof the pivotal mounting, said if; tubes havin ,he1;ica1 po t s, e tatia11v .a'lined with thepivotal axisloi the :body. which rubesareadap ea tobend) axis, and. flexible pressurercennectionsioitsaid ,b'odv .lO'W

ends andijconnected to .saidatjtheir tin i; and i a. fw i ht I c t 1 mounting ert a ly a We it piv mime theli' e in ,mpm'entkin the tubes;

,P FU' S LSWune; about "its, pivot. 5 I

3; e ilc me i ine an the semenmeans exeaiy ipauneh the we g e e e t h fl q e ti all a o 'pwotaiaxiswhen thebody is in its neutral pgsiforipivetal movement about a; horizon l en arm" secured to said body and extending sub-- ctantiaily'radial therete; anda leverbivoted oi'i the-outer end 501? the armisai'di arm and j'lev'e'r '":Ehtvingengagingsurfacescurved toprovid'e a am i actionvvar-yingthe effective point pren agemerg; I

upper end of each tube; is, closed by a plug 84f having a cross bore communicating with the pressure pipe and an axial bore; 86 terminating in a valve seat. A valve cage 81 is secured to the plug and loosely holds a valve 88 adapted to close the bore 86. The valve is formed of a material which will sink in water but will float in mercury, the valve shown being molded from tially radial thereto, and a leverpivoted. on'a'fixed pivot parallel to the'bodyaxis adjacent thecuter end of the arm, said arm andlever havingengag- 7 ing surfaces curved to providev acamaction varyiibetweenthe arm-and-lverasfithe toayyswiegs, u about; its; pivot, said surfaces being so shaped as to maintain their point of contact on a line 3 connectingwthe pivot and the axis.

5. A meter comprising a meter body mounted for pivotal-movement about a horizontal axisfan arm secured to saidbody and extending substangh .{d frrentiar ewe te c i prisinga hollow bo n edap ed I t f 'lfiaui-a s aliiieg i midi m LmQunt he-sai ,1 I for; pivotal; movement abouta ghoriaontal v axis, and flexible pressure connections ioresaid 1: 1 including 1 tubes; fixedly mdunted "at; their" 2;. A meter comprisineahollowhddi ada ted, l to" cpntain a sealin l quid, eans mountingsaid .ibedy for; pivotalfl icvement .abauta horizpntal fcludingjtubes fixedly mounted: t v vtheir I I H v he; the? body is" in; it neutral ;pos1t1o and ounterbalf V ei-idsbfthe' tubes' below'the pivotalyaxis an f; i

. a meter'cam ris rig a'meter -bod mcu'nte 1 ing thefefiective point of engagement bet'ween the arm and lever as the body swings about 'its 'pivot, one of said surfaces terminating in an 'abrupt edge forming the sole point of engagement between the surfaces during initial movement of the meter body. l 6. A meter comprising a meter body mounted for-pivotal movement'about a horizontal axis, an arm secured to said body and extending substantially radial thereto, and a lever pivoted on afixed jpivot parallel to the body axis adjacent the outer end of the arm, said arm and leverhaving engaging surfaces curved to Drovidea cam action varying the effective point of engagement between th'e arm and lever as the body swings about its pivot,

'one of said surfaces terminating in an abrupt edge forming the sole point of engagement between the surfaces during initial movement of the meter body, and the surfaces being, so shaped as to maintain their point of contact on a line connectjing the pivot and the axis, thereby-to provide rolling contact. I

7. A meter comprising a meter body mounted for pivotal movementabout a horizontal axis, an arm secured to said body and extending substantially radial thereto. and alever pivoted on a fixed pivot parallel to the body axis adjacent the outer end of the arm, said arm and lever having engaging surfaces curved to provide a camaction varying the effective point of engagement between the arm and lever as the body. swings about its pivot, thearm having anotch adjacent its outer end and terminating in a relatively sharp edge engageable with the cam surface, on the, lever whereby the sharp edge provides the sole pointof engagement .between the cam surfaces during a portion of the movement of the meter'body.-

8. A meter comprising a meter body mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an

arm secured to said body. andextending substantially radial thereto'and normally lying in a substantially horizontal position,- and a weighted lever pivoted on a fixed pivot parallel to the body 'axis adjacent the outer end of the arm and overlying the arm, said arm and lever having engaging surfaces at leastone of which iscurved to provide a cam action .varying the effective point of engagement between the arm and lever as the body swings about its pivot and at least one of said enga ing, surfaces terminating at a ,point in vertical alinement with the pivotal axis of .the body. f 9. A 'meter comprising a meter bodymounted :for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis,,an

arm secured to said body and extending substan- -ing surfaces at least'one of which is curved to ,provide a cam action varying the effective point of engagement between the arm and leveras the body swings about its pivot, the engaging surface [on said arm terminating at the pivotal axis of the angle. 1

assay-15s lyingatan angle at their point of engagement when the body is'in neutral'position so that said camming action does not become effective until the body has swung an amount greater than said 110. A ring balance meter comprising an annular hollow meter body adapted to contain a sealing liquid and having a partition in its upper "portion dividing it into a low pressure side and a high pressure side, said body being of reduced cross'section from the lower part of the high pressuresideito the upper part of the low pressure side, radially extending pressure tubes connected -at one'en'd respectively to the upper parts of the low an'd'high pressure sides and adapted to bend as thebody turns about itsaxis, means fixedly "mounting the other ends of the tubes adjacent the axis of'thebody and a single weight secured to the body-to compensate for the reduced weight of said portion of reduced cross section and for the bending moment of said tubes.

11. In a meter, an annular meter body adapted to contain a sealing liquid and having a partition in its upper portion dividing it into a low pres- :sure sideand ahigh pressure side, means mounting the body for pivotal movement about its center, pressureconduits extending between a fixed-'part of the apparatus and the upper parts of the low and high pressure sides respectively,

- :adapted to contain a sealing liquid and divided at :its upper portion, means mounting the body for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, rigid tubes extendupwardly from the top of said body "on opposite" sides of the division, and flexible pressure conduits connected between fixed parts of the apparatus and said tubes and communicating with the tubes adjacent their tops, the upper 'endsof' said tubes being formed with normally closed filling openings.

" "13. A meter comprising an annular body adaptedto contain a sealing liquid and divided at its 'upper portior'i,means mounting the body for pivotal rnovement about a horizontal axis, rigid tubes extriding'upwardly from the top of said "bo'di'o riopposite sides ofthe division, flexible pressure conduits'connected between fixed parts of the apparatus and said tubes and communicating with the tubes adjacent their tops, a cas- *ing surrounding said body and having an open- {ing in" its top through which the upper ends of {the tubes andthe conduits extend, and a cupshaped cover removably fitting over said opening, the'upper ends of said tubes being formed with normally closed fillingopenings,

ROBERT A. ACKLEY.

Patent No. 2,551,155

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

October 5, 19h}.

ROBERT A. ACKLEY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 5, for plug 55" read "plug 58"; page 5, first column, line 1, after the word "line". and before the period, insert ---connecting the weights-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 114th day of December, A. D. 1914.5.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

